Methods for diagnosing and treating kidney cancer

ABSTRACT

Methods, reagents and kits for diagnosing and treating kidney cancer are disclosed. An immunoassay for detecting kidney cancer is based on the relative change of the CELSR1 protein in urine or blood compared with normal tissue. An immunohistochemical assay for detecting kidney cancer is based on the relative absence of labeled antibody binding to cancerous tissue, compared with normal tissue.

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/363,596, filed 27 Feb. 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,459,280, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates generally to methods for diagnosing and treating kidney cancer.

REFERENCES

The following references are cited below in support of the background of the invention or methods employed in practicing the invention.

-   1. Wu, Q. & Maniatis, T. Large exons encoding multiple ectodomains     are a characteristic feature of protocadherin genes. Proc Natl Acad     Sci USA 97, 3124-9 (2000). -   2. Hadjantonakis, A. K. et al. Celsr1, a neural-specific gene     encoding an unusual seven-pass transmembrane receptor, maps to mouse     chromosome 15 and human chromosome 22qter. Genomics 45, 97-104     (1997). -   3. Hadjantonakis, A. K., Formstone, C. J. & Little, P. F. mCelsr1 is     an evolutionarily conserved seven-pass transmembrane receptor and is     expressed during mouse embryonic development. Mech Dev 78, 91-5     (1998). -   4. Tissir, F., De-Backer, O., Goffinet, A. M. & Lambert de     Rouvroit, C. Developmental expression profiles of Celsr (Flamingo)     genes in the mouse. Mech Dev 112, 157-60 (2002). -   5. Nusse, R., van Ooyen, A., Cox, D., Fung, Y. K. & Varmus, H. Mode     of proviral activation of a putative mammary oncogene (int-1) on     mouse chromosome 15. Nature 307, 131-6 (1984). -   6. Nusse, R. & Varmus, H. E. Many tumors induced by the mouse     mammary tumor virus contain a provirus integrated in the same region     of the host genome. Cell 31, 99-109 (1982). -   7. Sorensen, A. B., Duch, M., Amtoft, H. W., Jorgensen, P. &     Pedersen, F. S. Sequence tags of provirus integration sites in DNAs     of tumors induced by the murine retrovirus SL3-3. J Virol 70,     4063-70 (1996). -   8. Lund, A. H. et al. Genome-wide retroviral insertional tagging of     genes involved in cancer in Cdkn2a-deficient mice. Nat Genet 32,     160-5 (2002). -   9. Mikkers, H. et al. High-throughput retroviral tagging to identify     components of specific signaling pathways in cancer. Nat Genet 32,     153-9 (2002). -   10. Collier, L. S., Carlson, C. M., Ravimohan, S., Dupuy, A. J. &     Largaespada, D. A. Cancer gene discovery in solid tumours using     transposon-based somatic mutagenesis in the mouse. Nature 436, 272-6     (2005). -   11. Dupuy, A. J., Akagi, K., Largaespada, D. A., Copeland, N. G. &     Jenkins, N. A. Mammalian mutagenesis using a highly mobile somatic     Sleeping Beauty transposon system. Nature 436, 221-6 (2005). -   12. Suzuki, T. et al. New genes involved in cancer identified by     retroviral tagging Nat Genet 32, 166-74 (2002). -   13. Li, J. et al. Leukaemia disease genes: large-scale cloning and     pathway predictions. Nat Genet 23, 348-53 (1999). -   14. Lovmand, J. et al. B-Cell lymphoma induction by akv murine     leukemia viruses harboring one or both copies of the tandem repeat     in the U3 enhancer. J Virol 72, 5745-56 (1998). -   15. van Lohuizen, M. et al. Identification of cooperating oncogenes     in E mu-myc transgenic mice by provirus tagging. Cell 65, 737-52     (1991).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cancer is caused by genetic aberrations, i.e., mutations. In mutant cells the normal balance between the factors that promote and restrain growth is disrupted, and as a result, these mutant cells proliferate continuously—the hallmark of tumor cells. Mutations can arise spontaneously or by external factors such as chemical mutagens, radiation, or viral integration, which inserts extra-genomic DNA that may or may not contain an oncogene. A cellular gene can be modified by point mutation, insertion and frame shift (including truncation), (functional) deletion (including silencing), or translocation, which sometimes can result in gene fusion. In this way proto-oncogenes become oncogenes, which promote proliferation, and tumor suppressor genes become inactivated, also inducing tumor growth. Any combination of the above-mentioned changes in DNA can contribute to tumor formation. There are two ways by which mutations result in transformation: the expression level of the genes is changed, or their function is altered. The consequences of these changes may or may not be held in check by the immune system (immune surveillance).

Heretofore, there has been no demonstrated link between changes in CELSR1 levels and kidney cancer. Such a link could have a number of important diagnostic and therapeutic applications. In accordance with the present invention, it has now been discovered that (i) CELSR1 levels change, e.g., drop significantly in kidney cancer cells, and (ii) this change can be measured the blood-fluid and urine sample of patients.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention includes, in one aspect, a histological method for examining human kidney tissue for the presence and extent of kidney cancer. This method involves the steps of staining the kidney tissue with an antibody specific against a selected domain or epitope of CELSR1 and labeled with a detectable marker, to attach the marker to the surface of tissue cells having surface bound CELSR1 protein with that epitope or domain, and determining, based on a reduced distribution and extent of detectable marker with respect to the distribution and extent of marker in normal kidney cells, the presence and extent of kidney cancer in the tissue.

In various embodiments, the antibody may be specific against an epitope contained within SEQ ID NO:1, (i) a cadherin domain, such as contained within a sequence identified by SEQ ID NOS: 2-9, (ii) an EGF_CA domain, such as contained within a sequence identified by SEQ ID NOS: 10, 11, 13, 15, and 16, (iii) a LamG domain, such as contained within a sequence identified by SEQ ID NOS: 12 and 14, (iv) an EGF_Lam domain such as contained within the sequence identified by SEQ ID NO: 17, and (v) other domains, such as contained within sequences identified by SEQ ID NOS: 18-20.

In another aspect, the invention includes an antibody that is specific against an epitope contained with amino acid residues 90-150 of human CELSR1, and defined by SEQ ID NO:1. The antibody may be labeled with a detectable marker suitable for immuno-histochemical detection of cancerous kidney or neuronal tissue, based on the relative absence of histochemical staining of the tissue compared with normal kidney or neuronal issue, respectively.

Also disclosed is a method for identifying genetic mutations associated with an increased risk of kidney cancer. The method involves (a) extracting genomic DNA from cells from cancerous kidney tissue from human patients, (b) for the DNA extracted from cells from each tissue, comparing the sequence of the DNA in a selected region of the CELSR1 gene and its 5′-UTR and 3′-UTR, with a homologous region of DNA from cells from normal, wildtype human kidney tissue, and (c), by this comparing, identifying one or more mutations in said regions associated with an increased risk kidney cancer. The selected region of the gene from at least one of (i) a plurality of exons 1 to 35 of the CELSR1 on chromosome interval 22q13.3, including adjacent splice site acceptor and donor sequences of the exons, (ii) a 5′ UTR region within 10 kB or less of exon 1 of the gene, and (iii) a 3′-UTR region within 10 kB or less of exon 35. One exemplary region is a 5′ UTR region within 10 kB or less of exon 1 of the CELSR1 gene.

The method may be in constructing a gene chip designed for genetic screening for risk of kidney cancer. For each mutation identified in step (c), a gene fragment capable binding selectively to genomic DNA fragments carrying that mutation, but not to corresponding wildtype DNA fragments is produced, and the different-sequence fragments are attached at known positions on a gene-chip substrate.

In still another aspect, there is provided a method of screening for kidney cancer in a human subject, or staging treatment of kidney cancer in a subject, by reacting a body-fluid sample from the subject with an antibody specific against a selected domain or epitope of CELSR1, and determining from the presence and/or amount of immunoassay product, whether the subject has a reduced level of CELSR1 protein lacking the specific domain or epitope, when compared with a normal range of CELSR1 in human samples, as an indicator of kidney cancer. The body-fluid sample may be urine, and the assayed level of CELSR1 indicative of kidney cancer may be a level less than about 0.1 ng/ml.

The method may be carried out by applying the body fluid to a solid-phase immunoassay device, the level of CELSR1 in the sample may be indicated qualitatively by a calorimetric or fluorometric indicator, and the determining step may include comparing the indicator with a known standard.

In a related aspect, the invention includes a diagnostic device for use in screening for kidney cancer in a human subject, or staging treatment of kidney cancer in a subject. The device comprises (a) a structure for receiving a body-fluid sample from the subject, (b) an antibody specific against a selected domain or epitope of CELSR1, and associated with the structure and capable of reacting with body-fluid received in said structure, to produce, in combination with other reagents associated with the structure, a detectable reaction indicative of the level of CELSR1 in the sample, and (c) a known-standard indicator against which the level of detectable reaction produced can be assessed as an elevated level associated with kidney cancer.

The structure in the device may include a porous pad having the anti-CELSR1 binding protein embedded therein, for reaction with the fluid sample when the sample is applied to the pad, the detectable reaction may be indicated by a colorimetric or fluorimetric indicator, and the known standard indicator may include an indicia that represents a level of CELSR1 corresponding to that associated with kidney cancer.

The device may be employed in a kit which includes a spectrophotometric detector for generating a signal related to the level of CELSR1 produced, a microprocessor for comparing the signal with a know-standard signal value associated with kidney cancer, and a display for displaying an output of the microprocessor.

Also provided by the invention is a method of treating kidney cancer in a subject by the steps of (a) reacting a body-fluid sample from the subject with an antibody specific against a selected domain or epitope of CELSR1, (b) determining from the presence and/or amount of immunoassay product, whether the subject has a reduced level of CELSR1 protein lacking the specific domain or epitope, when compared with a normal range of CELSR1 in human samples, as an indicator of kidney cancer, and

(c) if the subject has such a reduced CELSR1 level, administering a therapeutically effective amount of a CELSR1 binding agent effective, when bound to the surface of kidney cancer cells, to inhibit growth or viability of the cells. One exemplary antibody in the method is a human or humanized anti-CELSR1 antibody specific against an epitope contained within SEQ ID NO:1.

These and other aspects, objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those persons skilled in the art upon reading the details of the invention as more fully described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the genomic organization of the human CELSR1 gene (a.k.a. flamingo 2) and a schematic representation of the protein it encodes.

FIG. 2 shows the genomic organization of the mouse Celsr1 locus, as viewed by a customized screen print of the UCSC genome web site browser (March 2005 version of the mm6 gene assembly). Top, base position on chromosome 15. Vertical green bars represent the retroviral insertions into the locus in 6 independent tumors.

FIGS. 3A-3B show an example of immunohistochemical stains of a human kidney tumor (renal cell carcinoma) (FIG. 3A), and matched normal kidney tissue (FIG. 3B) from the same patient. The polyclonal rabbit antibody used reacts to an epitope that is found between amino acid residues 90 and 150, which is encoded by exon 1.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a solid-phase diagnostic device for determining CELSR1 levels in a human patient, at initial (4A) and final stages (4B) of the assay; and

FIG. 5 shows a portion of a gene chip useful for diagnosing genetic predisposition to kidney cancer, constructed in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Definitions

The following terms have the definitions given below, unless otherwise indicated in the specification.

“Screening” for kidney cancer, in accordance with the present invention, means testing individuals for a level of CELSR1 that is indicative of kidney cancer or an elevated risk of kidney cancer.

“Staging” treatment of kidney cancer, in accordance with the present invention, involves determining the stage of kidney cancer in an individual, based on the level of CELSR1 detected, and tailoring the treatment to that stage. There are four recognized stages of kidney cancer, which are defined by the degree of localization of cancer cells. In addition, kidney cancer may be defined as early stage at which the cancer is responsive to a number of hormonal-based therapies, and a later, more serious androgen-independent stage.

“A reduced level of CELSR1 protein” may include, as an indicator of cancer, a reduced level of wildtype CELSR1 protein or a reduced level of CELSR1 protein having a specific epitope or domain. That is, either the absence of any CELSR1 protein or the presence of a defective CELSR1 protein may be indicative of cancer, e.g., kidney cancer.

B. CELSR1 Protein and Expression

The cadherin EGF LAG seven-pass G-type receptor-1 (CELSR1) protein¹⁻³, encoded by the CELSR1 gene (FIG. 1), is a member of the flamingo subfamily, which, in turn, is part of the cadherin superfamily. The flamingo subfamily consists of nonclassic-type cadherins, which do not interact with catenins. The flamingo cadherins are located at the plasma membrane and have at least eight cadherin domains, at least five calcium-binding epidermal growth factor-like (EGF_CA) domains, two laminin A G-type (LamG) domains, a laminin-type EGF-like (EGF_Lam) domain, and at least three receptor domains identified as (1) the HormR domain (a domain present in hormone receptors), (2) a GPS domain (G-protein-coupled receptor proteolytic site domain), and a 7tm domain (7-transmembrane receptor domain from the secretin family). The amino acids sequences identified with these domains are given in the Sequence Listing below. It is believed that CELSR1 proteins are receptors mediating contact-mediated communication. The cadherin domains may act as homophilic binding regions, and the EGF-like domains may be involved in cell adhesion and receptor-ligand interactions.

The human unprocessed CELSR1 protein precursor has 3014 amino acid residues (AA) and a calculated molecular weight (MW) of 329486 Da; the mouse precursor has 3034 AA and a calculated MW of 330481 Da. The human gene contains 35 exons; all 9 protocadherin ectodomain repeats of the human protein are encoded by the large first exon¹; in the mouse ortholog, this exon is split into exons 1 and 2. Part of the human exon 1, without all the other exons, is also transcribed in lung epithelial cells (EST CA944897), with a predicted protein of 188 AA.

The CELSR1 protein is expressed in the brain, where it is localized principally in the ependymal cell layer, choroid plexus and the area postrema; and in the spinal cord and in the eye. It is a developmentally regulated, neural-specific gene which plays an unspecified role in early embryogenesis. First detected at developmental stage E6 in the mouse, it is predominantly expressed in the developing central nervous system (CNS), the emerging dorsal root ganglia and cranial ganglia. In the CNS, expression is uniform along the rostrocaudal axis. During gastrulation, it is expressed in the vicinity of the primitive streak, and becomes predominant in that area at late gastrulation. At E10, it is detected in ventricular zones (VZ), but not in marginal zones (MZ), and weakly in other structures. Between E12 and E15, it is highly expressed in the VZ in all brain areas, but not in differentiated neuronal fields. In the newborn and postnatal stages, expression remains restricted to the VZ, but it is also weakly expressed in fetal lungs, kidney and epithelia⁴.

C. Screening for CELSR1-Related Cancers in Mice

Cancer genes (oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes) were defined in a high throughput manner by using proviral tagging. Although viruses have not yet been implicated as a major cause of cancers in humans, research using tumor viruses has led to the discovery of many oncogenes and protooncogenes. In proviral tagging, mice are infected with a retrovirus that does not contain an oncogene (e.g., murine leukemia virus, MLV or murine mammary tumor virus, MMTV)⁵⁻⁹. Recently, the host range of this approach has been broadened by the use of a transposon^(10, 11).

During retroviral infection, the virus integrates into the cellular genome and inserts its DNA near or within genes, which leads to various outcomes: (i) The insertion site is too far away from a protooncogene and thus does not activate it. In this case, there will be no selection for that cell. (ii) The provirus inserts within 200 kb of a protooncogene, but not within the gene (type 1). Here, either the viral promoter or the viral enhancer increases the expression level of the protooncogene. (iii) The provirus inserts within a gene, destroying or altering its function (type 2). There will be no selection for a cell that contains either type 1 or type 2 insertion events in a gene that is not a protooncogene or tumor suppressor gene. If integration results in the formation of a tumor, genes adjacent to the integration site can be identified, and classified as either protooncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. This method has been used to identify protooncogenes as well as to confirm already known protooncogenes discovered by virtue of their homology to viral oncogenes^(5, 6, 18, 9, 12-15). A tumor suppressor may be scored if a retrovirus lands within a gene and truncates or destroys it. In these cases, the suppressor may be haplo-insufficient, or alternatively, the mutation on the other allele is provided spontaneously by the mouse. The integration event may also lead to more complex consequences, such as a dominant negative effect of the truncated gene product or the transcription of anti-sense or microRNA.

In a screen with T lymphotrophic virus SL3-3, six independent tumors were recovered that contained proviral integrations in the mouse CELSR1 locus: five tumors contained integrations within intron 2 (which corresponds to human intron 1) while one tumor contained an integration within intron 6 (which corresponds to human intron 5) (FIG. 2). In the first five tumors, all 9 protocadherin ectodomain repeats are predicted to be separated from the rest of the protein. In tumor 6, the protocadherin domains plus part of the EGF-like motif are predicted to be separated from the rest of the protein. The results demonstrate that disruption of the cadherin and/or EGF-like domains in CELSR1 protein can trigger a tumor, and that therefore, tumors may be associated with CELSR1 proteins lacking a critical domain or epitope or with absence of the CELSR1 protein itself.

D. Expression of CELSR1 in Human Tumors and in Normal Tissue

The mutations that were identified as causal in mouse tumor formation disrupted the gene after exon 2. In humans, exon 1 encompasses the sequences of both exons 1 and 2 of the mouse. In addition to the signal peptide, human exon 1 encodes the 9 cadherin domains of CELSR1. As the cadherin domains extend to AA 1197, a rabbit polyclonal antibody to an epitope that is included between AA 90 to 150 was used for the studies on oncogenic mutations that caused the (functional) loss of the ectodomains. Indeed, this domain was found to be missing in renal cell carcinomas (FIG. 3), whereas the normal counterpart of these tumor cells strongly expressed CELSR1 (FIG. 3). Clearly, the absence of part or all of the ectodomains is a marker for these tumors.

More generally, the invention provides a histological method for examining human kidney tissue for the presence and extent of cancer. In the method, kidney tissue is stained with a labeled antibody specific against a selected domain or epitope of CELSR1, e.g., fluorescence-labeled antibody (see Section E below), to attach the marker to the surface of tissue cells. The presence and extent of kidney cancer in the tissue is then determined based on a reduced distribution and extent of detectable marker with respect to the distribution and extent of marker in normal kidney cells.

E. Preparation of Anti-CELSR1 Antibody

This section describes production of anti-CELSR1 antibodies useful for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, as described further in the sections below. The anti-CELSR1 antibody used in the present invention can be obtained by any a variety of conventional methods as a monoclonal, polyclonal, or recombinant antibody. One preferred antibody, particularly for diagnostic use, is a mouse monoclonal antibody, prepared according to well-known hybridoma methodology. Briefly, human CELSR1 may be first obtained, for example, by expressing the CELSR1 (MXR7) gene as disclosed by Lage, H. et al (Gene 188 (1997), 151-156). The purified CELSR1 protein acts as an immunogen. Alternatively, a partial peptide of CELSR1 can be used as a sensitization antigen. In particular, for generating antibodies specific against a selected epitope or domain of CELSR1, a peptide defining that domain or epitope may be used as the immunogen. These peptides can be defined by the sequences given in the Sequence Listing below. For example, to generate an antibody specific against an epitope contained in SEQ ID NO:1, the peptide defined by this sequence is employed as the immunogen.

Anti-CELSR1 antibodies useful in diagnostic applications may be labeled with a variety of detectable labels, including detectable reporters, such as enzymes for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), detectable particles, such as gold particles and reporter-carrying liposomes, colorimetric or fluorescent reporters, labels such as quantum dot nanocrystal particles, radiolabels, and labels such as a biotin label by which secondary detectable labels, such as a reporter-labeled streptavidin label can be attached. In some assay formats, an unlabeled anti-CELSR1 antibody, for example, a mouse IgG antibody, is detected by reaction with a labeled antibody, e.g., a labeled anti-mouse IgG antibody.

For therapeutic uses, human monoclonal antibodies having binding activity to CELSR1, (see Japanese Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 1-59878 B (1989)) can be produced by sensitizing in vitro human lymphocytes with CELSR1, and causing the sensitized lymphocytes to fuse with the human-derived myeloma cells having a permanent division potential. Alternatively, CELSR1 as an antigen can be administered to a transgenic animal having all the repertories of a human antibody gene to obtain anti-CELSR1 antibody-producing cells, and then human antibodies for CELSR1 may be obtained from the immortalized anti-CELSR1 antibody-producing cells (see International Patent Publication Nos. WO 94/25585, WO 93/12227, WO 92/03918 and WO 94/02602).

In still other methods, human or humanized antibodies specific against CELSR1 antigen can be prepared by recombinant technique, such as have been reported (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,090,382 and 6,258,562).

F. Diagnostic Methods and Reagents

In one aspect, the invention includes a method of screening for kidney cancer in a human subject, or staging treatment of kidney cancer in a subject. This is done, in accordance with the invention, by reacting a body-fluid sample from the subject with an antibody specific against a selected domain or epitope of CELSR1, and determining from the presence and/or amount of immunoassay product, whether the subject has a reduced level of CELSR1 protein lacking the specific domain or epitope, when compared with a normal range of CELSR1 in human samples, as an indicator of kidney cancer.

Preferred body-fluid samples are blood and urine. Where urine is assayed, the assayed level of CELSR1 indicative or kidney cancer is typically in the range less than about 0.1 ng/ml sample fluid.

The assay may be carried out by any of a variety of assay methods used for detecting body-fluid antigens, including ELISA techniques, homogeneous assays, for example, involving fluorescence quenching, and a variety of solid-phase sandwich assays in which the CELSR1 antigen is captured on by an anti-CELSR1 antibody carried on a solid support, and the immobilized antigen-antibody complex is labeled with a second anti-CELSR1 antibody, e.g., a second antibody carrying a calorimetric or gold-particle reporter.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a solid-phase assay strip constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, suitable for carrying out a sandwich immunoassay of the type just mentioned, and shown in initial and final assay states, respectively. The strip, indicated generally at 10, includes a porous support or pad 12 having a sample-application zone 14 in an upstream region of the support and a sample-detection zone 16 in a downstream region. The sample-application zone includes a detectable anti-CELSR1 antibody reagent, e.g., anti-CELSR1 antibodies labeled with gold particles, and carried in the zone in an unbound, i.e., non-immobilized form. This reagent is indicated by solid circles, such as at 18. Anti-CELSR1 antibodies, which may be the same or different from those in the labeled antibody reagent, are immobilized to the solid support within the detection zone, and are indicated by the “Y” shapes, such as at 20.

Also shown is a reference zone 22 which is located adjacent the detection zone and has one or more colored or shaded regions corresponding to different assay levels of CELSR1 in a body-fluid sample. In the embodiment shown, zone 22 includes three regions 22 a, 22 b, and 22 c, corresponding to an assayed level of CELSR1 (a) below that associated with kidney cancer, (b) corresponding to a lower threshold level associated with kidney cancer, and (c) a level that is substantially higher, e.g., 2-3 times, higher than the threshold layer in region 22 b, respectively. These three regions provide a known standard indicator against which the level of detectable reaction produced can be assessed as a level associated with kidney cancer. Together, the assay strip and reference zone constitute an assay device for use in screening for kidney cancer in a human subject, or for staging treatment of kidney in a human subject.

In operation, a known volume of a body-fluid sample to be tested is added to the sample-application zone of the strip, where it diffuses into the zone, allowing the antibody reagent to react with CELSR1 antigen in the sample to form an antigen-antibody complex. This complex and unbound antibody reagent then migrate downstream by capillarity toward the detection zone, where the antigen-antibody complex is captured by the immobilize antibody and the unbound reagent is carried to the end of the support, as indicated at 24. As can be appreciated, the higher the concentration of antigen in the body fluid, the higher the density of captured reagent in the detection zone and the greater the color or intensity in this zone. This color or intensity produced in the detection zone is compared with the standards in the reference zone to determine a qualitative level of CELSR1 associated with the presence or absence of kidney cancer. If a sub-threshold level or threshold level of CELSR1 is observed in the assay, the subject can be classified in a higher-probability category for the presence of cancer, and the subject may be recommended for additional testing and/or more frequent testing.

In another embodiment, the assay device includes an assay strip like that described above, but where the known-reference indicator is provided by a strip-reader instrument reader having (i) a reader slot for receiving the assay strip, (ii) a light source and an optical detection, e.g., a spectrophotometric detector, for detecting an assay-related optical condition at the detection zone of the assay strip, (iii) an electronics or processor unit which records and processes a signal from the optical detector, and converts the signal to an assayed level of CELSR1, and (iv) a user display screen or window. The instrument may report the actual CELSR1 body-fluid sample detected, allowing the operator to compare the displayed value with known standard indicator levels provided with the assay strip or instrument, to assess whether the subject has an reduced CELSR1 level associated with kidney cancer, or to assess the possible stage of the cancer, for purposes of treatment design. Alternatively, the instrument itself may contain stored known-standard indicator levels which can be compared internally with an assayed level to generate an output that indicates whether an reduced CELSR1 level associated with kidney cancer has been detected, or to indicate the stage of the cancer.

G. Identifying Genetic Mutation Associated with Kidney Cancer

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for identifying mutations associated with increased risk of kidney cancer in a human subject. In practicing the method, genomic DNA is extracted from human patients having kidney cancer, preferably including patients from men or women representing different racial and age groups. The DNA sequences that are examined, in particular, are (i) one or more of exons 1 to 35 of the CELSR1 on chromosome interval 22q13.3, including adjacent splice site acceptor and donor sequences of the exons, (ii) a 5′ UTR region within 10 kB or less of exon 1 of the gene, and (iii) a 3′-UTR region within 10 kB or less of exon 35.

Mutations at one or more sites along the region are identified by comparing each of the sequences with sequences from the same region derived from normal (wildtype) kidney tissue. Preferably sequences from a number of wildtype individuals are determined to ensure a true wildtype sequence. For each extracted DNA, the patient and wildtype sequences are compared to identify mutations in the patient sequences, and thus mutations that are likely associated with increased risk of kidney cancer.

Once a large number of these mutations are identified, e.g., at least 50-200 or more, they may be used in constructing a genetic screening device, e.g., a gene chip, useful for screening individuals for genetic predisposition to kidney cancer. In one embodiment, the device includes a gene chip, such as shown at 30 in FIG. 5, having an array of regions, such as regions 34, 36, each containing bound known-sequence fragments, such as fragment 37 in region 34. The fragments or probes are preferably 25-70 bases in lengths and each includes one of the above-identified mutations upstream of the CELSR1 gene that is associated with kidney cancer. In particular, the array sequences are designed in length and sequence to bind to those 22q13.3 mutations identified above, but not to associated fragments. Gene-chip construction, and detection of mutant sequences with such chips, are well known.

In a typical genetic-screening procedure, patient cells are obtained, genomic DNA is extracted, and 22q13.3 sequence regions of interest are amplified by standard PCR, employing fluoresceinated probes. The amplified material is then reacted with the chip-array sequences, under suitable hybridization conditions, and the array surface is washed to remove unbound material, then scanned with a suitable chip reader to identify any mutated sequences associated with kidney cancer. The figure shows binding of a labeled genomic DNA fragment, indicated at 42, to an array region 38 having bound probe molecules 40. Detection of a fluorescent signal in this array region is diagnostic of a known genetic mutation in the critical upstream CELSR1 region of 22q13.3 interval and may be diagnostic of a genetic predisposition to kidney cancer.

In an alternative embodiment, the mutations identified as above are used to construct a set of molecular inversion probes (MIPs) capable of identifying the presence of genomic mutations. The construction and use of MIPs for identifying genetic mutations have been described (see, for example, Wang, et al., Nucleic acids research (England) 2005, Vol 33, p. 21.

H. Treatment Methods and Pharmaceutical Preparations

The invention also includes methods for treating, e.g., reducing the tumor burden in a human subject with kidney cancer. In one general immunotherapy approach, a patient diagnosed with kidney cancer is first confirmed as having reduced levels of CELSR1, according to assay methods described above. If the subject tests positive in this assay, he is treated by administration of anti-CELSR1 antibody. Preferably the antibody is a human or humanized antibody, prepared as described above, and is administered by IV or subcutaneous injection in a suitable physiological carrier. The antibody dose is preferably 1 to 10 mg injection, and the patient is treated at intervals of every 14 days or so. During treatment, the patient is monitored for change in status of the cancer, typically by a combination of a tumor-visualization procedure and levels of kidney-related antigens, as above. The treatment may be carried out in combination with other kidney-cancer treatments, including drug or radio-isotope therapy, and may be continued until a desired diminution in tumor size is observed.

While the invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments and applications, it will be appreciated that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the invention as claimed. 

1. A method of screening for kidney cancer in a human subject, comprising reacting a body-fluid sample from the subject with an antibody specific against a selected domain or epitope of CELSR1, determining from the presence and/or amount of immunoassay product, whether the subject has a reduced signal from CELSR1 protein, when compared with a signal in a normal range of CELSR1 in human samples, as an indicator of kidney cancer.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the body-fluid sample is urine, and the assayed level of CELSR1 indicative of kidney cancer is less than about 0.1 ng/ml.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said assaying includes applying the body fluid to a solid-phase immunoassay device, the level of CELSR1 in the sample is indicated qualitatively by a colorimetric or fluorometric indicator, and said determining includes comparing the indicator with a known standard. 